Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 9, 2019

For their final Universal production, the comedy team Abbott and Costello were paired up with another studio legend, the Mummy. Absent from screens for some time, the Mummy, or Klaris (changed from Kharis), returns to duty in 1955’s “Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy,” which is supposed to be a funny feature, as opposed to “Mummy” sequels, which triggered unintended laughter. The picture is also the last of the Abbott and Costello monster team-up movies, sending the pair off with one more opportunity to inspire laughs through horror, this time taking on a particularly slow threat.

Playing a pair of opportunists in Cairo, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello work through their highly polished routines in “Meet the Mummy,” making a mess of a situation involving Klaris the Mummy, a prized medallion ingested by Costello, and interested outsider Rontru (Marie Windsor), who’s after a treasure held inside a secret tomb. There’s a plot, and it’s passably preserved to help the movie along, but as with every Abbott and Costello picture, most of the run time is devoted to high jinks with the stars, who bring their special timing to the effort, making it easily digestible and occasionally humorous. However, at this point in their careers, Abbott and Costello were mostly coasting on known routines, which work for laughs, but “Meet the Mummy” isn’t wonderfully imaginative outside of a few sight gags.

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Originally released in 2017, "Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy" returns to Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. It appears to be the same scan as the previous release, which does fine with detail, capturing monster and cult particulars, along with costuming highlights. Facial surfaces are also acceptable. Delineation is comfortable, handling shadowy encounters well. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in decent condition.

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix has quite the range, with settled dramatic activity often interrupted by Costello's screaming fits, which register loudly. Dialogue exchanges are confident, handling comic timing and punchline precision carefully, and more dramatic efforts are equally clean. Scoring supports accurately, with decent instrumentation helping to enhance manic chase scenes and creepier encounters. Sound effects are blunt, and atmospherics are adequate.

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Troy Howarth.

• Image Gallery (5:51) collects film stills, publicity shots, poster art, and lobby cards.

• Production Notes (1:51) offer information on the making of "Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:09, SD) is included.

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

True to the title, Abbott and Costello do meet the Mummy, mostly running away from Klaris, often right through solid walls for maximum emphasis. "Meet the Mummy" is mostly forgettable, but the stars are quite capable of squeezing laughs out any situation, and the feature's silliness is endearing, especially when it gets bizarre, such as Costello's unexpected snake-charming abilities. And there's the Mummy for superfans, stalking around the picture, creating a fine foil for the comedians, giving them something gruesome to play against.